WEBVTT THIS HOME ON SADDLE ROAD IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE OFFERS A PICTURESQUE VIEW OF THE LAKE, THE KIND OF VIEW PEOPLE WILL TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES TO TAKE IN. >> I HAVE 14 PEOPLE FLYING IN FROM FRANCE TODAY. >> THOUGH THERE’S ROOM FOR ALL 14 ACROSS FIVE BEDROOMS AND 5 THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, RECENTLY PASSED MEASURE T PLACES A STRICT TWO PERSON PER BEDROOM LIMIT, AND NO MORE THAN 12 PEOPLE P VACATION RENTAL IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS SEEN HERE IN RED, BUT NOT THOSE IN NON-RESIDENTIAL AREAS SHOWN HERE IN GREEN. >> HOW CAN I TELL THEM, WELL, SORRY. FOUR PEOPLE. GRANDMA AND GRANDPA HAVE TO GO BACK HOME TO FRANCE. THEY’RE NOT ALLOWED TO COME UP TO BEAUTIFUL TAHOE. >> KATHY JO LEIBHARDT WITH TAHOE DESTINATION VACATION RENTALS SAYS THE GROUP BOOKED THE HOME A YEAR AGO. >> IT’S JUST REALL HEART WRENCHING THAT FIVE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS WE’RE TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR RULES. I’M SORRY. THAT JUST, IT’S JUST HEARTWRENCHING FOR THESE PEOPL THAT HAVE PLANNED THIS TRIP FOR A YEAR NOW AT THIS LOCATION. >> THE CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE SAYS IT PLANS TO BE REASONABLE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHEN IT COMES TO THESE VACATION HOME RENTALS. >> AS LONG AS THERE AREN’T ANY VIOLATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS, WE’RE GOING TO BE REASONABLE AS FAR AS OUR ENFORCEMENT IS CONCERNED. NOW, IF THERE ARE VIOLATIONS INSIDE ONE OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WILL ENFORCE THE OCCUPANY LIMITS THAT ARE LAID OUT IN MEASURE T. THOSE WHO PUSHED MEASURE T TO THE BALLOT SAY THEY SUPPORT THE CITY’S APPROACH. OUR POSITION IS A POSITION OF LENIENCY THROUGH THE HOLIDAY PERIOD. IT WOULD NOT BE OUR INTENTION TO TRY TO DISRUPT SOMEBODY’ HOLIDAY VACATION WITH BOOKING THAT WERE MADE WELL IN ADVANCE. >> BUT THE FIGHT ISN’T OVER AS KATHY AND OTHERS SEEK AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION IN EL DORADO COUNTY COURT NEXT WEEK. >> I’M GOING TO HONOR THAT CONTRACT, AND I’M PRETTY SURE THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO HONOR EVERYBODY’S CONTRACT UP TO A CERTAIN POINT. WE HAVE TO. I’M SORRY, WE CAN’T TELL PEOPLE YOU CAN’T COME UP HERE BECAUSE OF A COTNRACT. >> IN SOUTH LAKE T

The court battle over a so-called vacation home rental ban in South Lake Tahoe will go another round after the judge in the case recused himself. The South Lake Tahoe Property Owners Group wants to block implementation of Measure T, a ballot measure city voters narrowly approved in November. The group filed a lawsuit in El Dorado County Superior Court seeking an emergency injunction.However, a hearing on the matter was postponed Wednesday afternoon when Judge Michael McLaughlin cited an unspecified conflict of interest and recused himself from the case.The case will now be heard at 11 a.m. Monday, according to the court. The ban takes effect in three years, but a part of Measure T -- limiting the number of people allowed to occupy a vacation home -- went into effect Thursday.Here's what you need to know about Measure T:What is the occupancy limit?There now is a 12-person limit and a two-person-per-bedroom limit on vacation home rentals in residential areas. It affects all vacation rental homes in those areas, city officials said.However, vacation home rentals in nonresidential areas are not affected, the city explained in a letter to residents. How is the city handling Measure T changes?The city is taking a reasonable approach to the new cap during the holiday season, South Lake Tahoe Communications Manager Chris Fiore said.He acknowledged that many visitors booked their vacations months before Measure T was passed by voters with 50.4 percent of the vote, 3,517 to 3,459."As long as there aren't any violations outside of the occupancy limits, we're going to be reasonable as far as our enforcement is concerned," Fiore said. "Now, if there are violations inside one of these neighborhoods, we will enforce the occupancy limits that are laid out in Measure T."Fiore said the city is continually evaluating Measure T and will be closely watching what happens in court Monday."We've said all along that we respect the will of the voter," he said. "We understand what they want, and look, we've been working on this for a while. VHRs -- this is not a new issue for South Lake Tahoe. We respect the will of the voter, but we're trying to be reasonable with the people who made these reservations months ago."Who opposes Measure T?"It's just really heart-wrenching that five days before Christmas, we're told that we have to change our rules," said Kathy Jo Liebhardt, owner of Tahoe Destination Vacation Rentals. "I'm sorry ... it's just heart-wrenching for these people that planned this trip for a year now at this location." Liebhardt spoke with KCRA 3 inside one of her five-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot rentals, which has 14 people arriving from France for the holidays. Due to the two-person-per-bedroom rule that went into effect Thursday, the home should have no more than 10 occupants in it."How can I tell them, 'Well, sorry. Four people -- Grandma and Grandpa -- have to go back home to France. They're not allowed to come up to beautiful Tahoe?'" she asked. "I'm going to honor that contract, and I'm pretty sure that the city is going to honor everybody's contract up to a certain point. We have to. I'm sorry, we can't tell people you can't come up here because of a contract."Who supports Measure T?The Tahoe Neighborhoods Group supports Measure T and worked to get it on the ballot.Spokesperson Peggy Bourland said the group supports leniency through the holiday season."It would not be our intention to try to disrupt somebody's holiday vacation with bookings that were made well in advance," Bourland said. "It is the new law, but like I said, we support a leniency period through the holidays, for sure."What other rules are part of Measure T?The ban will be fully effective in 2021 and will impact more than 1,300 short-term rentals outside the commercial tourist corridor. Permanent residents still can rent out their property up to 30 days a year.The city estimates the ban will cost about $4 million annually in tourist tax dollars.An estimated 400 short-term rentals inside the corridor are exempt. The ban doesn't affect neighboring Stateline, Nevada.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KCRA) —

The court battle over a so-called vacation home rental ban in South Lake Tahoe will go another round after the judge in the case recused himself.

The South Lake Tahoe Property Owners Group wants to block implementation of Measure T, a ballot measure city voters narrowly approved in November. The group filed a lawsuit in El Dorado County Superior Court seeking an emergency injunction.

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However, a hearing on the matter was postponed Wednesday afternoon when Judge Michael McLaughlin cited an unspecified conflict of interest and recused himself from the case.

The case will now be heard at 11 a.m. Monday, according to the court.

The ban takes effect in three years, but a part of Measure T -- limiting the number of people allowed to occupy a vacation home -- went into effect Thursday.

Here's what you need to know about Measure T:

What is the occupancy limit?

There now is a 12-person limit and a two-person-per-bedroom limit on vacation home rentals in residential areas. It affects all vacation rental homes in those areas, city officials said.

However, vacation home rentals in nonresidential areas are not affected, the city explained in a letter to residents.

City of South Lake Tahoe

How is the city handling Measure T changes?

The city is taking a reasonable approach to the new cap during the holiday season, South Lake Tahoe Communications Manager Chris Fiore said.

He acknowledged that many visitors booked their vacations months before Measure T was passed by voters with 50.4 percent of the vote, 3,517 to 3,459.

"As long as there aren't any violations outside of the occupancy limits, we're going to be reasonable as far as our enforcement is concerned," Fiore said. "Now, if there are violations inside one of these neighborhoods, we will enforce the occupancy limits that are laid out in Measure T."

Fiore said the city is continually evaluating Measure T and will be closely watching what happens in court Monday.

"We've said all along that we respect the will of the voter," he said. "We understand what they want, and look, we've been working on this for a while. VHRs -- this is not a new issue for South Lake Tahoe. We respect the will of the voter, but we're trying to be reasonable with the people who made these reservations months ago."

Who opposes Measure T?

"It's just really heart-wrenching that five days before Christmas, we're told that we have to change our rules," said Kathy Jo Liebhardt, owner of Tahoe Destination Vacation Rentals. "I'm sorry ... it's just heart-wrenching for these people that planned this trip for a year now at this location."

Liebhardt spoke with KCRA 3 inside one of her five-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot rentals, which has 14 people arriving from France for the holidays. Due to the two-person-per-bedroom rule that went into effect Thursday, the home should have no more than 10 occupants in it.

"How can I tell them, 'Well, sorry. Four people -- Grandma and Grandpa -- have to go back home to France. They're not allowed to come up to beautiful Tahoe?'" she asked. "I'm going to honor that contract, and I'm pretty sure that the city is going to honor everybody's contract up to a certain point. We have to. I'm sorry, we can't tell people you can't come up here because of a contract."

Who supports Measure T?

The Tahoe Neighborhoods Group supports Measure T and worked to get it on the ballot.

Spokesperson Peggy Bourland said the group supports leniency through the holiday season.

"It would not be our intention to try to disrupt somebody's holiday vacation with bookings that were made well in advance," Bourland said. "It is the new law, but like I said, we support a leniency period through the holidays, for sure."

What other rules are part of Measure T?

The ban will be fully effective in 2021 and will impact more than 1,300 short-term rentals outside the commercial tourist corridor. Permanent residents still can rent out their property up to 30 days a year.

The city estimates the ban will cost about $4 million annually in tourist tax dollars.